Monday, May 29, 2017

Blinded by The Light

Paul the Apostle was miraculously converted on his way to Damascus. His story is best described in his own words while he was in prison, and are recorded in the Bible in the New Testament.

Acts 22:1-16

1“Brothers and fathers,
hear the defense that I now make before you.”2 And when they heard
that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language, they became even
more quiet. And he said:3“I am a Jew, born in
Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet
of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers,
being zealous for God as all of you are this day.4 I persecuted this
Way to the death, binding and delivering to prison both men and
women, 5 as the high priest and the whole council of elders can
bear me witness. From them I received letters to the brothers, and I
journeyed toward Damascus to take those also who were there and bring
them in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished.

6 “As I was on my
way and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from
heaven suddenly shone around me.

7 And I fell to the
ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are
you persecuting me?’

8 And I answered,
‘Who are you, Lord?’And he said to me, ‘I
am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’9 Now those who were
with me saw the light but did not understand the voice of the one who
was speaking to me.10 And I said, ‘What
shall I do, Lord?’And the Lord said to me,
‘Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all
that is appointed for you to do.’11 And since I could
not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the
hand by those who were with me, and came into Damascus.12 “And one
Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the
Jews who lived there, 13 came to me, and standing by me said to
me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that very hour
I received my sight and saw him.14 And he said, ‘The
God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the
Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth; 15 for you
will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and
heard.

16 And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash
away your sins, calling on his name.’

Paul's story continues in the rest of Acts, chapters 22 and 23.

The apostle's life was an exemplary testimony of his faith in Christ. An
extraordinary man of courage, Paul endured unimaginable suffering for
his faith. A very detailed account of Paul's life is in his own words
throughout his writings in the New Testament.

The
fingers of the left hand timidly appear on the thick book that
indicates his status as an apostle. Top, left, is the inscription
S.PAVLVS, text that connects the person with the apostle, without
showing the sword, his only known attribute.